Adams family - Kilrea (Claragh)

Vicky,

Griffiths Valuation for 1858 lists John Adams farm in Claragh. It was plot 56a and was just less than 27 acres. Today that property is on the Agivey Rd just north of it’s junction with Movanagher Rd. You can see where it is using the modern maps on the Griffiths website:

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml

The family appear to have continued farming there until at least the late 1950s, perhaps longer.

Tradition was for the farm to go to the eldest son and the other sons had to fend for themselves in the world, which often led to them emigrating due to the general lack of heavy industry and employment opportunities in Ireland at that time.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Londonderry/Kilrea/Claragh/1520862/

Probate abstracts from the PRONI website:

Adams John of Claragh county Londonderry farmer died 8 July 1927 Probate Londonderry 15 August to Samuel Adams farmer and Thomas B. Crockett farmer. Effects £1357 19s. 3d.

Adams, Samuel of Claragh Kilrea county Londonderry retired farmer died 30 November 1959 at Coleraine Hospital Coleraine county Londonderry Probate Belfast 8 February to William Adams merchant and John William Adams farmer. Effects £1568 3s. 3d.

Kilrea 1st’s baptism and marriage records only start in 1825 so you probably aren’t going to find any records of John’s baptism in 1797 nor of any siblings. But with an established farm like that, he was probably born there. There’s a copy of the church records in PRONI. Free to view.

The 1831 census lists John Adams in Claragh with a total household of 4 - 2 males and 2 females:

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollin/Kilrea/Claragh/35/

Given that the family were Presbyterian, living in Co Derry and had a farm, they had probably lived in the area since the 1600s (when they would have come over from Scotland).  The Mercers records may contain details of how long they had the farm in Claragh. 

Dear Vicky:

Thank you for your post and your notice about your upcoming trip.  As you will note, Elwyn's information is very helpful and it may be possible that there are descendants of this family who are still in the area. 

I have sent an email to the local librarian at Kilrea Library this morning to ask her if she can assist you while you are in the area.  When I hear back from her, I will let you know. 

In the meantime, here is the link to that library:

https://www.librariesni.org.uk/Libraries/Pages/Kilrea-Library.aspx

If you have any further questions, please let me know directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com

Kind regards,

Jane

Vicky,

Adding a little more information, there are quite a few mentions of the Adams family in Claragh on the British Newspapers site (if you have a subscription). Mostly low key items eg winning a prize for best horse in a show or for work in connection with the local church. The Coleraine Chronicle of 13th June 1903 reported that a police constable named Caulfield fell off his bike on the previous Wednesday evening, outside John Adams house, in Kilrea, and spent a little time in it recovering, before being taken to Coleraine. Presumably a slow news day in Kilrea.

Coleraine Chronicle of 24.11.1849 reported the marriage of Mary Jane Adams of Claragh (daughter of John Adams) to Robert Woods of Bannville. Marriage took place at Kilrea Presb church on 28.10.1849.

The Belfast Telegraph had a report on 30.11.1959 of the funeral for Samuel Adams, husband of Margaret Adams, from his home  - Claragh House, Kilrea to 1st Kilrea Burying Ground.  So you know both the name of the family farm and also where some of the family are buried.

Dear Vicky:

The local librarian, Anne Wilson has replied that she is happy to assist you when you arrive and I have given you the information about the Library in a previous post.  Please note the opening hours and days.  

It sounds from the library contact and the replies from Elwyn that you may have some very good information and make some good progress with your research trip.  Would you please let me know how you get on and if you have any further questions?  You can contact me directly at:  jhalloranryan@irelandxo.com

Kind regards,

Jane

Dear Jane,

Thank you so much for your help, I can’t believe how much information has been put together in such a short time. As we are staying Saturday and Sunday in Coleraine I will contact Anne Wilson at the library on Saturday. I shall give you an update on any extra info I find,
Regards,
icky

Hi Vicky:

That's great.  Just so you know:  there is a bank holiday weekend in Northern Ireland the last weekend of May (24-27) and the library may be closed on that Saturday (25 May).  You might contact Anne via email ahead of time to be sure that they will be open.

Please let me know if you have any further questions.  Have a wonderful trip and keep us posted as to your progress.

All the best,

Jane